VC Visteon Corporation

Visteon Releases Preliminary Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2004 Results 2004 Highlights VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Visteon Corporation (NYSE:VC) today announced preliminary fourth quarter and full year results for 2004. For the fourth quarter 2004, Visteon reported revenue of $4.7 billion, up 5 percent compared with the same period in 2003. These results were driven by a 35 percent increase in non-Ford revenue. Non-Ford revenue for the quarter totaled a record $1.6 billion, up more than 7 percentage points from the same period last year. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) For the full year 2004, revenue totaled $18.7 billion, up $1 billion compared to 2003, despite a $460 million decline in Ford revenue. Full-year non-Ford revenue reached a record $5.7 billion, up 36 percent over 2003. Full-year non-Ford revenue represented 30 percent of total revenue. "Our record non-Ford revenue growth in 2004 exceeded our expectations and serves as testament to the innovative products customers are counting on us to deliver," said Mike Johnston, president and chief executive officer. "Our new business wins in 2004 continue to be in the growth products that are core to our success - interiors, climate and electronics, including lighting. We've strengthened our competitive position to serve customers around the globe by opening and expanding technical centers in every region. "We have implemented programs to reduce headcount and costs in the United States, but material surcharges and lower North American Ford production have put significant pressure on our operating results. As we announced last September, we are exploring strategic and structural changes to our U.S. operations to achieve a sustainable and competitive business. We are having constructive and ongoing discussions with Ford about such changes." Visteon's results are preliminary because, during the course of the year- end closing process, errors were discovered in the company's accounting for certain retiree health care and pension benefits, and income taxes. Management has made an initial evaluation of the impact of these errors and has included preliminary financial results reflecting these estimates. Because of these errors, Visteon is, in consultation with its independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, reviewing prior reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to determine if any other adjustments or corrections are necessary. Visteon has not identified any other necessary adjustments at this time. Fourth Quarter 2004 During the fourth quarter of 2004, Visteon changed the method of determining the cost of production inventory for U.S. locations from the last- in, first-out (LIFO) method to the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Visteon believes the FIFO method of inventory costing will provide more meaningful information to investors and conforms all inventories to the same FIFO basis. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 20, "Accounting Changes", a change from the LIFO method of inventory costing to another method is considered a change in accounting principle that should be applied by retroactively restating all prior periods. For the fourth quarter 2004 Visteon reported a net loss of $115 million, or $0.92 per share. These results include $41 million of after-tax special charges, or $0.33 per share, primarily related to costs associated with a U.S. salaried employee voluntary termination incentive program that will result in a reduction of approximately 400 employees by March 31, 2005. For the fourth quarter 2003, as restated, Visteon reported a net loss of $829 million, or $6.60 per share. These results included asset impairment write-downs, an increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowances, and special charges totaling $720 million after-tax, or $5.73 per share. Full Year 2004 For the full year 2004, Visteon recorded a net loss of $1.489 billion, or $11.88 per share. These results include non-cash write-downs of $871 million for increased valuation allowances against Visteon's deferred taxes, $314 million for asset impairment write-downs, and $78 million for other special charges. In aggregate these items totaled $1.263 billion after tax, or $10.08 per share. For the full year 2003, as restated, Visteon recorded a net loss of $1.190 billion or $9.46 per share. These results include the asset impairment write- downs, an increase in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and other special charges. In aggregate, after-tax, these items totaled $911 million, or $7.24 per share. For the full year 2004, cash flow from operations was $427 million, a $57 million increase from 2003. Cash payments related to capital expenditures were $836 million for the full year 2004, $43 million lower than 2003. At year end 2004, Visteon had $752 million of cash and marketable securities, down $204 million from the previous year end. 2005 Outlook Visteon is exploring strategic and structural changes to its business in the United States that would involve Ford and Visteon's legacy businesses. Visteon is seeking a comprehensive agreement that could address a number of items. The discussions with Ford have been constructive and are ongoing. Because of the uncertainty surrounding future market and economic conditions, combined with Visteon's ongoing discussions with Ford, Visteon is not providing specific guidance at this time. "In light of mounting challenges facing our business, we are identifying actions to improve the company's cost structure and cash position," said Johnston. "In addition to our strategic and structural discussions with Ford, we are taking actions to focus capital and engineering resources to growth areas only, and minimize the impact of material surcharges." The Board of Directors considers each quarter whether to declare a cash dividend, and has declared and paid a cash dividend each quarter since its spin off from Ford in 2000. In light of the uncertainty regarding future market conditions, Visteon's current financial conditions and the ongoing discussions with Ford, the Board intends to discuss its options regarding the cash dividend at its regularly scheduled February 9, 2005 meeting, including modification or suspension of the dividend. Accounting Restatements Effective in January 2002, Visteon amended its retiree health care benefits plan for certain of its U.S. employees. Effective in January 2004, a Visteon wholly owned subsidiary amended its retiree health care benefits plan for its employees. These amendments changed the eligibility requirements for participants in the plan. As a result of these amendments, Visteon changed the expense attribution periods, which eliminated cost accruals for younger employees and increased accrual rates for older participating employees. Prior to these amendments, Visteon accrued for the cost of the benefit from a participating employee's date of hire, regardless of age. During the course of preparing Visteon's 2004 financial statements, it was determined that the requirement to properly communicate these benefit changes to affected employees was not satisfied. Further, analysis of the annual United Kingdom pension valuation identified pension expense related to special termination benefits provided under Visteon's European Plan for Growth were not fully recognized in the company's previous financial statements. In addition to the employee benefit matters described above, Visteon also corrected the amount and timing of the recognition of certain tax adjustments made during the periods. As the company expects to repatriate earnings of foreign subsidiaries, adjustments were made to provide for the tax effects of foreign currency movements against the U.S. dollar. These adjustments impacted the timing of the recognition of deferred tax asset valuation allowances in the fourth quarter of 2003 and the third quarter of 2004. Further, the company recognized an additional valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets that had previously been misclassified and not considered in the company's 2003 deferred tax assessment. As a result of these errors, Visteon's management has recommended, and the Audit Committee has approved, the review and preliminary restatement of its financial statements for 2002, 2003 and the first three fiscal quarters of 2004. The restatements presented in the accompanying financial information include adjustments that had resulted from the changes described above. The preliminary restatements and adjustments reflected in the attached financial information are being reviewed and could change. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to rely on the company's historical financial statements for such periods. A preliminary summary of adjustments identified, including related tax effects, is set forth in the "Note to Financial Information." "Although the OPEB plan changes were disclosed in our public filings, we did not properly communicate these changes to employees who were affected," explained Jim Palmer, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "Because of this lapse in communication, the action cannot be considered effective and we are reversing the change. This is a non-cash item and is unrelated to Ford's recent OPEB reserve announcement. We are hopeful the review of this matter and other identified issues will be concluded shortly, allowing for a timely filing of our 2004 10-K." Visteon has concluded that the deficiencies in internal controls that led to the errors constitute a "material weakness," as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's Auditing Standard No. 2. Consequently, management will be unable to conclude that Visteon's internal controls over financial reporting are effective as of December 31, 2004. Furthermore, Visteon expects that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will issue an adverse opinion with respect to the company's internal controls over financial reporting, which opinion will be included in Visteon's 2004 Form 10-K. Quarterly Conference Call Scheduled at 10 a.m. EST Today A conference call will be hosted today, Monday, January 31 at 10 a.m. EST to discuss Visteon's fourth quarter and full year 2004 financial results in further detail, as well as other related matters. To participate in the call, callers in the U.S. should dial 888-452-7086 and callers outside of the U.S. should dial 706-643-3752. Please call approximately 10 minutes before the start of the conference. For a replay of the conference, those in the U.S should dial 800-642-1687; outside the U.S., callers should dial 706-645-9291. The pass code to access the replay is 1098115 (domestic and international). The replay will be available for one week. Visteon will provide a broadcast of the quarterly meeting for the general public via a live audio web cast. The conference call, along with the financial results release, presentation material and other supplemental information, can be accessed through Visteon's web site at http://www.visteon.com/earnings. Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon has about 70,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 200 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 25 countries. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, including the automotive vehicle production volumes and schedules of our customers, and in particular Ford's North American vehicle production volumes; the successful completion of our discussions with Ford and, if successful, implementing structural changes that result from those discussions; our successful execution of internal performance plans and other cost-reduction and productivity efforts; charges resulting from asset impairment reviews, restructurings, employee reductions, acquisitions or dispositions; our ability to offset or recover significant material surcharges; the completion of the review of our prior period financial statements referred to in this press release and any adjustments that may result from such review; the effect of pension and other post- employment benefit obligations; as well as those factors identified in our filings with the SEC (including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year- ended December 31, 2003). We assume no obligation to update these forward- looking statements. Visteon Corporation And Subsidiaries Supplemental DATA (Preliminary and Unaudited) (in millions, except per share amounts) 2004 over/(under) 2004 Restated 2003 * Fourth Full Fourth Full Quarter Year Quarter Year Sales Ford and affiliates $3,115 $13,015 $(174) $(460) Other customers 1,580 5,676 410 1,491 Total sales $4,695 $18,691 $236 $1,031 Depreciation and amortization Depreciation $146 $580 $ -- $8 Amortization 24 102 (2) -- Total depreciation and amortization $170 $682 $(2) $8 Selling, administrative and other expenses $266 $994 $6 $(14) (Loss) before income taxes and minority interests $(123) $(489) $496 $687 Net (loss) $(115) $(1,489) $714 $(299) Net (loss) per share Basic and Diluted $(0.92) $(11.88) $5.68 $(2.42) Average shares outstanding Basic and diluted 125.3 125.3 (0.4) (0.5) Special charges (1)(2) Included in costs of sales $(27) $(382) $(414) $(352) Included in selling, administrative and other expenses (14) (14) -- (6) Total pre-tax special charges $(41) $(396) $(414) $(358) Special charges above, after-tax $(41) $(392) $(252) $(92) Deferred tax asset valuation allowance -- (871) (427) 444 Total after-tax special charges $(41) $(1,263) $(679) $352 Special charges per share, based on average diluted shares outstanding above $(0.33) $(10.08) $(5.40) $2.84 Capital expenditures(3) $274 $854 $36 $(25) Cash provided by operating activities $200 $427 $(138) $57 Cash and borrowing (compared to December 2003 year-end) Cash and marketable securities $752 $(204) Borrowing 2,021 203 * See Note to Financial Information which describes the restatement of previously reported financial information. ------ 1 - Fourth Quarter 2004 amounts include $41 million ($41 million after- tax) related to restructuring and other actions. Full Year 2004 amounts include $82 million ($78 million after-tax) related to restructuring and other actions and $314 million ($314 million after- tax) related to fixed asset impairment write-downs. 2 - Fourth Quarter 2003 restated amounts include $48 million ($33 million after-tax) related to restructuring and other actions and $407 million ($260 million after-tax) related to non-cash fixed asset impairment write-downs. Full Year 2003 restated amounts include $318 million ($205 million after-tax) related to restructuring and other actions and $436 million ($279 million after-tax) related to fixed asset impairment write-downs. 3 - Includes amounts related to capital leases. Visteon Corporation And Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement Of Operations (Preliminary And Unaudited) For the Years Ended December 31, Fourth Quarter Restated Restated Restated 2004 2003* 2002* 2004 2003* (in millions, except per share amounts) Sales Ford and affiliates $13,015 $13,475 $14,779 $3,115 $3,289 Other customers 5,676 4,185 3,616 1,580 1,170 Total sales 18,691 17,660 18,395 4,695 4,459 Costs and expense Costs of sales 18,135 17,806 17,612 4,535 4,812 Selling, administrative and other expenses 994 1,008 893 266 260 Total costs and expenses 19,129 18,814 18,505 4,801 5,072 Operating (loss) (438) (1,154) (110) (106) (613) Interest income 19 17 23 5 4 Bond extinguishment costs 11 -- -- -- -- Interest expense 104 94 103 29 23 Net interest expense (96) (77) (80) (24) (19) Equity in net income of affiliated companies 45 55 44 7 13 (Loss) before income taxes, minority interests and change in accounting (489) (1,176) (146) (123) (619) Provision (benefit) for income taxes 965 (15) (69) (15) 201 (Loss) before minority interests and change in accounting (1,454) (1,161) (77) (108) (820) Minority interests in net income of subsidiaries 35 29 28 7 9 (Loss) before change in accounting (1,489) (1,190) (105) (115) (829) Cumulative effect of change in accounting, net of tax -- -- (265) -- -- Net (Loss) $(1,489) $(1,190) $(370) $(115) $(829) Basic and diluted (Loss) per share Before cumulative effect of change in accounting $ (11.88) $(9.46) $(0.82) $(0.92) $(6.60) Cumulative effect of change in accounting -- -- (2.07) -- -- Basic and diluted $(11.88) $(9.46) $(2.89) $(0.92) $(6.60) Cash dividends per share $0.24 $0.24 $0.24 $0.06 $0.06 * See Note to Financial Information which describes the restatement of previously reported financial information. Visteon Corporation And Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheet (Preliminary And Unaudited) December 31, Restated 2004 2003* (in millions) Assets Cash and cash equivalents $752 $953 Marketable securities -- 3 Total cash and marketable securities 752 956 Accounts receivable - Ford and affiliates 1,276 1,198 Accounts receivable - other customers 1,263 1,164 Total receivables 2,539 2,362 Inventories 889 852 Deferred income taxes 51 163 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 231 160 Total current assets 4,462 4,493 Equity in net assets of affiliated companies 227 215 Net property 5,319 5,369 Deferred income taxes 132 700 Other assets 203 270 Total assets $10,343 $11,047 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Trade payables $2,403 $2,270 Accrued liabilities 893 929 Income taxes payable 34 27 Debt payable within one year 508 351 Total current liabilities 3,838 3,577 Long-term debt 1,513 1,467 Postretirement benefits other than pensions 636 513 Postretirement benefits payable to Ford 2,135 2,090 Deferred income taxes 296 3 Other liabilities 1,491 1,505 Total liabilities 9,909 9,155 Stockholders' equity Capital stock Preferred stock, par value $1.00, 50 million shares authorized, none outstanding -- -- Common stock, par value $1.00, 500 million shares authorized, 131 million shares issued, 130 million and 131 million shares outstanding, respectively 131 131 Capital in excess of par value of stock 3,365 3,358 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) 8 (53) Other (26) (19) Earnings retained for use in business (accumulated deficit) (3,044) (1,525) Total stockholders' equity 434 1,892 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $10,343 $11,047 * See Note to Financial Information which describes the restatement of previously reported financial information. Visteon Corporation And Subsidiaries Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flows (Preliminary And Unaudited) For the Years Ended December 31, Restated Restated 2004 2003* 2002* (in millions) Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 $953 $1,204 $1,024 Cash flows provided by operating activities 427 370 1,101 Cash flows from investing activities Capital expenditures (836) (879) (723) Acquisitions and investments in joint ventures, net -- (4) -- Purchases of securities -- (48) (508) Sales and maturities of securities 11 118 588 Other 34 25 36 Net cash used in investing activities (791) (788) (607) Cash flows from financing activities Commercial paper (repayments) issuances, net (81) (85) (194) Other short-term debt, net (20) 55 45 Proceeds from issuance of other debt, net of issuance costs 576 238 115 Principal payments on other debt (32) (121) (245) Repurchase of unsecured debt securities (269) -- -- Purchase of treasury stock (11) (5) (24) Cash dividends (31) (31) (31) Other, including book overdrafts 3 77 (4) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 135 128 (338) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 28 39 24 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (201) (251) 180 Cash and cash equivalents at December 31 $752 $953 $1,204 * See Note to Financial Information which describes the restatement of previously reported financial information. Visteon Corporation And Subsidiaries NOTE TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION The following table summarizes the anticipated adjustments to the previously reported financial information announced by Visteon. These adjustments impacted previously reported costs of sales, selling, general and other expenses and income tax expense on the statement of operations. Full Fourth Full First Nine Year Quarter Year Months 2002 2003 2003 2004 (in millions) Net (loss), as originally reported $ (352) $ (863) $ (1,213) $ (1,299) Accounting for change in inventory costing methodology (pre-tax)(1) (9) 3 3 -- Accounting corrections for postretirement health care costs and pension costs (pre-tax)(2) (20) (11) (29) (28) Tax impact of above (3) 11 18 25 -- Accounting correction for taxes (4) -- 32 32 (39) Accounting correction for taxes (5) -- (8) (8) (8) Net (loss), as restated $ (370) $ (829) $ (1,190) $ (1,374) Net (loss) per share - basic and diluted As originally reported $ (2.75) $ (6.87) $ (9.65) $ (10.37) As restated $ (2.89) $ (6.60) $ (9.46) $ (10.97) ------ 1 - During the fourth quarter of 2004, Visteon changed the method of determining the cost of production inventory for U.S. locations from the last- in, first-out ("LIFO") method to the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Visteon believes the FIFO method of inventory costing provides more meaningful information to investors and conforms all inventories to the same FIFO basis. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 20, "Accounting Changes", a change from the LIFO method of inventory costing to another method is considered a change in accounting principle that should be applied by retroactively restating all prior periods. 2 - Includes accounting corrections for U.S. postretirement life and health care costs to reverse the cumulative expense reductions that had been recorded from plan amendments which changed eligibility requirements for the retiree health care benefits for participating employees. As a result of these amendments, Visteon changed the expense attribution periods, which eliminated cost accruals for younger employees and increased the accrual rate for older participating employees. It was determined that the requirement of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106 to properly communicate these benefit changes to affected employees was not satisfied and that such expense reductions should not have been recorded. Further, based on an analysis of the annual United Kingdom pension actuarial valuation, amounts also include $5 million for the full year 2003 and fourth quarter of 2003 and $4 million for the first nine months of 2004 related to special termination benefits provided under Visteon's European Plan for Growth which were not fully recognized in Visteon's previous financial statements. 3 - Represents the deferred tax benefit of the pre-tax expense adjustments, net of any valuation allowances. The fourth quarter and full year 2003 amounts include $17 million to adjust the valuation allowance for the cumulative impact on deferred tax assets of the pre-tax adjustments. 4 - Represents an adjustment to provide U.S. deferred taxes for the impact of currency fluctuations on retained earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries and the related adjustments to the required deferred tax asset valuation allowances in the fourth quarter of 2003 and the third quarter of 2004. Visteon expects to repatriate earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries and must provide for the expected U.S. tax impact of the assumed future repatriation, including the impact of currency fluctuations. These amounts were originally provided for in the second quarter of 2004 in conjunction with Visteon's completion of a full analysis and assessment of the Other Comprehensive Income balances, including the pre-spin periods. This adjustment was recorded to fully recognize the tax amounts as they arose in prior periods and to account for the related impact on the deferred tax asset valuation allowances recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003 and the third quarter of 2004. 5 - Represents accounting corrections to adjust the valuation allowance recorded against Visteon's deferred tax assets. The fourth quarter and full year 2003 adjustment relates to certain foreign deferred tax assets that had been previously misclassified. The adjustment for the first nine months of 2004 relates to the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on Visteon's U.S. deferred tax liabilities for withholding taxes on unremitted foreign earnings. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGODATASOURCE: Visteon Corporation CONTACT: Media: Kimberly A. Welch, Corporate Communications, +1-734-710-5593, or , Analyst: Derek Fiebig, +1-734-710-5800, or Web site: http://www.visteon.com/ http://www.visteon.com/earnings

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